Recently, I picked up a U.K. to U.S.A. Dictionary, just for fun. Because as much Brit Lit as I’ve read, and as much British telly as I’ve watched, there are still some phrases that manage to give me the slip.

So I thought I’d share some of my favorites, some common ones that most people probably already know, and some amusing/interesting ones.

Oh, and the last section is pages and pages of Cockney slang. I will never get it, but I can assure you it can be really, really funny.

U.K. to U.S.:

Agony aunt: Advice columnist

Back of beyond: The sticks/boonies. Or, where my friend Brittany lives. Don’t tell her I told you that, as she gets very mad when I say that.

Beer and skittles: pleasure, amusement

Berk: Jerk (one of my favorites!)

Best of British: Good luck

Billy No-Mates: Person without friends. Hey, at least you have a cool name.

Bob’s your uncle: All is well, “you’re all set”

Braces: Suspenders

Brolly: Umbrella

Cakes and ale: the good things of life

Car park: Parking lot

Cheek: Nerve

Chippy: Fish & Chips Shop. Also known as Heaven.

Chuffed: Please

Codswallop: Gibberish/Nonsense. As in, Hagrid said Voldemort’s death was “codswallop” and if everyone had listened, they would have saved Harry a whole lot of trouble.

Digestive: Round biscuit. But also so much more. Love these!

Dressing gown: Bathrobe. But classy.

Elevenses: Morning coffee/tea break. One of a Hobbit’s seven essential meals. And an integral part of any quest to save Middle Earth.

English Breakfast: Cereal, eggs, sausages, bacon, tomatoes, tea, mushrooms, fried bread. Followed by me not eating for the next day.

Fairy lights: Christmas lights

Fancy dress: Costume. So if someone invites you to a fancy dress party, that ball gown works either way!

Fortnight: Two weeks. Everyone should say this. It just sounds cool.

Garden: Yard

Haberdashery: Notions store. Also I want to work at one.

Haver: Talk foolishly, babble. If you’re a Proclaimer, you’re gonna be the man who’s havering to you.

Hob: Stove top.

Holiday: Vacation

Homely: Pleasant and unpretentious. That is a much nicer meaning for this word.

Jumper: Pullover, sweater. John Watson’s uniform of adorableness.

Ken (Scottish): know, be acquainted with

Lift: Elevator

Lodger: Boarder

Loo: Bathroom, restroom

Lutine bell: Bell rung at Lloyd’s of London to announce the loss of a ship

Mac, Mack: Mackintosh coat. Love these.

Make a meal of it: Exaggerate.

Marmite: Spread made from essence of yeast and beef broth.

Merry dancers: Aurora Borealis

Mobile: Cell phone

Motorway: Freeway

Natter: Talk, grumble

Nosey Parker: Overly inquisitive person. Quite possibly my favorite U.K. phrase

Nutter: Crazy person

Penny dreadful: Cheap storybook or magazine

Pictures: Movies

Pinny: Apron

Pissed: Drunk

Plaster: Band-aid

Pop one’s clogs: To die. Makes me think of that house falling on the Wicked Witch of the East

Pop round: To come visit

Post: Mail

Pram: baby carrier

Row: argument

Safe as houses: Something assured, secure

Sellotape: Scotch tape. Or, if you go to Hogwarts, Spellotape

Smashing: First rate, excellent

Snigger: Snicker

Steady on: “Whoa” in U.S.

Sticky wicket: sticky situation

Subway: Underground pedestrian walkway

Sunnies: Sunglasses

Ta: Thank you

Take-away: Take out. If you’re Hyacinth Bucket, you are not the Chinese take-away.

Tomato sauce: Ketchup

Torch: Flashlight

Trainers: Sneakers

Tube: Subway

Tuck in: Eat heartily

Underground: Subway

W.C.: Toilet

Waistcoat: Vest

Whinge: Whine

Wotcher: How are you

Yank: American

You lot: You guys

And now for some of that crazy Cockney stuff!

Alligator: Later

Apples and Pears: Stairs

Baked Beans: Jeans

Chicken Dinner: Winner

Friar Tuck: Luck

Gold Watch: Scotch

Obi Wan Kenobi: Mobi (cell phone)

River Nile: Denial

Robin Hood: Good

Next time: We return to Disney with “The Little Mermaid”